Shaheed Qaasim, a Los Angeles-based West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, blues, and fusion dance teacher, DJ, choreographer, competitor, and enthusiastic student. I’ve been partner dancing since 2004, and my journey has taken me across the country teaching, learning, and building community through dance.

Fusion holds a special place in my heart, it invites us to move beyond genre and instead connect through intention, creativity, and presence. As a teacher, I focus on helping students develop a deep understanding of connection and movement, and I’m passionate about guiding people toward finding their own voice on the dance floor. My goal is always to help dancers show up authentically, joyfully, and respectfully; with themselves, their partners, and their communities.

I care deeply about community building because I believe partner dancing is more than artistic expression, it’s a powerful tool for connection and healing. That’s why I encourage organizers and dancers alike to move with purpose, awareness, and care for the spaces we’re co-creating.

I’m constantly reconnecting with my own love of dance and expanding my movement vocabulary through styles like Kizomba, Bachata, and hip-hop. I’m honored to be part of City in Motion, an event that reflects the diversity, depth, and joy of fusion. Let’s move together.

recorded May 6, 2024

Falina is just a fusion dancer who’s trying to be helpful. She’s slowly (very slowly) become more involved in her home scene of Los Angeles after moving there from Sacramento over a decade ago, and now DJs, volunteers, and occasionally teaches. Mostly, she overthinks things—dance included.Recorded: Feb 25, 2024

Flouer Evelyn is a partner dance instructor & Embodiment Coach from New York City, currently based in Turin, Italy. Although she was around back in 1999 during the beginning of the "fusion/blues/swing" era, she's been formally teaching what we call Fusion today since 2011. She has an MFA in dance and a background in Blues, Lindy, Contemporary, Latin Ballroom, ballet, and ice skating, among others. At this point she has performed and taught all over the globe, and won plenty of partner dance competitions in various styles. And sure, all of those are important experiences, but what matters most is that in the classroom Flouer has a warm, encouraging way to help people learn to move their bodies and connect with others.

In Fusion, Flouer brings her fascination for how the systems of different partner dances fit together, offering simple ways to give structure and context to the concept of “free partner dancing”. She is known for her values of artistry and personal expression, complimented by her ability to break down any movement into incredibly specific detail. Using imagery, anatomy, rhythm, cultural context and embodiment concepts, she will help you become the master of your own dance from the ground up. https://flouerdances.com

“The reason to master technique is so the body does not prevent the soul from expressing itself” – la Meri

Tony Sciscio (He/Him) fell in love with the Fusion scene in 2011, and has since invested ridiculous amounts of his time and travel around the US to co-build the Fusion community, attend its epic events, and support the vibes and magic it creates (through some organizing, but mainly DJing and volunteering). He still continues to invest every inch of his dancing soul to Fusion to this day, making sure that fun is always present in some way.

As a teacher, Ted Maddry has helped thousands of students improve their dancing and sometimes even their lives. In his classes, he will challenge you to develop dance technique, experiment and take risks in your dancing all the while maintaining a comfortable & entertaining classroom environment. Ted has also started and run weekly dance events in Seattle and San Francisco, as well as Camp Blues. His passion is inspiring people to engage more fully, as dancers and in their lives.

Andrew Sutton has been teaching Fusion since before it had a name & is widely regarded as one of the founders of the movement. He was the creative director for the Fusion Exchanges & introduced the idea of Fusion-as-priority (originally referred to as Fusion-as-philosophy). He’s also a vice World Lindy Hop Champion, thanks to world-class teachers, including Olympic & MLB/NFL coaches.Having taught in over 236 cities across 38 countries, Andrew’s mission is to help dancers & instructors elevate their craft. His Dance Ninjas methodology empowers teachers worldwide, helping them grow thriving dance communities. His clients have doubled their scene sizes in under 90 days, gone from 0 to 40 students in a month, earned over $1 million in 3 years & learned how to have non-stop amazing dances multiple nights in a row.Andrew believes teachers are the lifeblood of dance. Whether you want to make every Fusion dance extraordinary or build a thriving dance scene, Andrew is here to help you succeed.

Hi my name is Ren. I'm a traveling Fusion dancer, instructor and organizer based between San Diego and San Francisco. As a trans fem dancer I love the Fusion scene. I love the queerness, the affection for one another, and the unique study and and somatic approach we bring to movement. I found dance late in life and have been obsessed with it over the last 6 to 7 years having traveled to 10 states, and 5 countries in just the last 2. I travel In pursuit of a holistic understanding of Fusion dance and the community I've come to love. It has been a literal dance journey that has changed my life. Currently my background is in a dozen different sprinkles of West Coast Swing, Blues, Tango, Zouk and Kizomba.

Meet DJ Salt Queen (aka Sabrina Ramos) - a versatile DJ known for creating dynamic and electric dance environments

This LA-born, NYC-based life-long music fan has been lighting up lindy hop, blues, and fusion scenes for over a decade. Sabrina's musical journey began in her living room, where her Colombian mother's eclectic vinyl collection sparked a lifelong love of rhythm and movement.

With a dance background as diverse as the New York skyline, Salt Queen has embraced everything from lindy hop and blues to salsa and tango - and she's always eager to learn more! This passion for all things dance has powered her DJ sets across the globe, from cosmopolitan Bogotá to vibrant Barcelona.

For 10+ years, Salt Queen has been the heart and soul of swing socials, blues gatherings, and fusion parties. Her musical magic has energized crowds in LA, NYC, Vegas, and even Honolulu, creating unforgettable nights and happy dancers wherever she goes.

What makes her sets special? A mix of infectious energy, bold musical choices, and an instinct for what keeps people moving. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or trying your first steps, DJ Salt Queen creates a welcoming atmosphere that'll have you dancing all night.